Illustrator draws on experience for children's series combatting bullying

Having lost someone he cared about because of bullying and having experienced it himself - were reasons enough for author and illustrator Dakei Harvey to create the “Roger Crabgrass” series of books combatting bullying.

“I also want to help kids get through it,” said Harvey, 22, during an interview at the Lenox Township Library in New Haven. Although small, its children’s section is mighty and among its treasured books is Harvey’s first installment in a series about a young character named Roger Crabgrass.

Through Roger’s eyes, Harvey shares his story of a 10-year-old boy who is passionate about math and anything related to drawing, painting and building things, and a victim of bullying. In a dream, Roger sees himself as a successful architect, who runs into the bullies he knew as a child. Only this time, they’re adults looking for a job, and Roger is the one who can hire them.

Harvey is not unlike Roger.

He was bullied, too.

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“I was a scrawny kid, and one of nine, so things were tough. I had hand-me-down clothes, plus I was interested in art and writing,” Harvey said.

As a teen in high school, Harvey decided to focus his energy (and anger) on making the football team. Not only did he become Mount Clemens High School’s starting quarterback, but throughout his freshman and sophomore years, earned the attention of several colleges and universities, including Princeton. While a junior, Harvey was asked by the school’s track coach (and art teacher) to try out for the team. In his first attempt at long jump, Harvey landed far enough in the pit to compete at the state level, which he eventually did, graduating from high school as a track star. He never stepped back onto the football field, but as a senior went back to the drawing board, and his writing. His work earned him numerous accolades in high school and after graduating, a job as an art instructor at the Jermaine Jackson Community Center (formerly Cairns Community Center) in Mount Clemens.

At this point, bullying was a thing of the past for Harvey, but not so for others including his high school track coach, who suffered damage to his eyes after being hit in the face by a baseball. During a workshop at the high school, some of the teens started mocking him, taking advantage of his inability to see what they were doing. On behalf of a man he admired deeply, Harvey confronted the bullies, making them aware of their teacher’s talents as an artist, and mentor. When he was done, the students applauded Harvey and their teacher.

That’s the kind of results Harvey hopes to have with the character and stories in his Roger Crabgrass series.

“I have read this book to my grandson, who is 7 years old. He understood the message that author Dakei Harvey was trying to convey to the readers,” said Mount Clemens Mayor Barb Dempsey. “I would recommend this book to (middle school) readers and their parents. The book sends a very profound message for everyone.”

“I want to reach youth all around the world,” said the author and illustrator who is also directing and co-producing “Restoration Today,” a TV show on the Impact Network and writing music for an indie record label.

“I want to bring awareness to bullying,” Harvey continued. “I want readers to be fascinated by the character and my illustrations, but also get the message of my stories.”

“Roger Crabgrass” ($9.99) is available from most online distributors including: amazon.com; barnesandnoble.com; and ebookstore.sony.com.

About the Author

Gina Joseph is a multimedia journalist and columnist for The Macomb Daily. Reach the author at gina.joseph@macombdaily.com Follow @ginaljoseph on Twitter or visit her beat blog macomblife.blogspot.com. Reach the author at gina.joseph@macombdaily.com
or follow Gina on Twitter: @ginaljoseph.